Skin-inspired polysaccharide-based hydrogels with tailored properties for information transmission application

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Conductive hydrogels are crucial for flexible electronics due to their flexibility and biocompatibility.
• Challenges exist in rapidly and sustainably fabricating green conductive hydrogels with superior mechanical and conductive properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop modified polysaccharide-reinforced polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) ionic conductive hydrogels with tailored properties.
• To mimic the structure of human skin for enhanced material performance.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Zn²⁺ coordination and the Hofmeister effect for hydrogel fabrication.
• Regulated ionic concentrations to tune mechanical properties (0.39-1.93 MPa) and conductivity (0.26-1.10 S/m).
• Investigated multiscale interactions, including nanofibril networks, crystalline domains, metal coordination, and hydrogen bonding.

Main Results:

• Achieved precisely tunable mechanical properties and ionic conductivity (IC) at low ionic concentrations.
• Demonstrated enhancement in mechanical and conductive properties attributed to multiscale interactions.
• Showcased a low strain detection limit (2%) for human health monitoring applications.
• Developed a wireless information transmission system for deaf-mute individuals using the hydrogel.

Conclusions:

• Presented an eco-friendly and biomimetic strategy for fabricating ionic conductive hydrogels.
• Highlighted the potential of these tailored hydrogels for advanced flexible sensing and communication applications.
• Emphasized the significance of multiscale interactions in achieving desired material properties.